MP 1,1-5,1 Manually Configured OpenCore on the Mac Pro

[joshuaelm]

I have a MacPro3,1. Just use the dosdude1 patcher to download the latest Catalina 10.15.6, create USB installer, install Catalina over your 10.15.3 to update it. Shouldn't be a problem unless you have 64 GB or RAM.

Does this get rid of my files?

 

[joevt]

Does this get rid of my files?

No.

 

[joshuaelm]

No.

Thank you

 

[RickyHunter]

Hi Folks!
I need assistance here.
I'm on mac pro 4.1-->5.1. Still original CPUs and RAM here, I'm waiting for them to arrive.
I installed Catalina on nvme.
I used OpenCore 0.6.
Now almost everything I need is working except the hardware acceleration (used VideoProc to test it) and hibernation: if I put my system into sleep mode, it never goes back to work.
To do the install I followed the post on page 1. I edited the config file to have hardware acceleration, graphical boot picker and nightshift.

I attach my config file. Could anyone tell me how I can make hardware acceleration to work?

 

[startergo]

Hi Folks!
I need assistance here.
I'm on mac pro 4.1-->5.1. Still original CPUs and RAM here, I'm waiting for them to arrive.
I installed Catalina on nvme.
I used OpenCore 0.6.
Now almost everything I need is working except the hardware acceleration (used VideoProc to test it) and hibernation: if I put my system into sleep mode, it never goes back to work.
To do the install I followed the post on page 1. I edited the config file to have hardware acceleration, graphical boot picker and nightshift.

I attach my config file. Could anyone tell me how I can make hardware acceleration to work?View attachment 949286

Everything you need is in the 1st post. For you look at Hybridization section.

 

[Apple-is-Cool]

Hi Folks!
I need assistance here.
I'm on mac pro 4.1-->5.1. Still original CPUs and RAM here, I'm waiting for them to arrive.
I installed Catalina on nvme.
I used OpenCore 0.6.
Now almost everything I need is working except the hardware acceleration (used VideoProc to test it) and hibernation: if I put my system into sleep mode, it never goes back to work.
To do the install I followed the post on page 1. I edited the config file to have hardware acceleration, graphical boot picker and nightshift.

I attach my config file. Could anyone tell me how I can make hardware acceleration to work?

Try Martin Lo's OpenCore package and config here:

Activate AMD hardware acceleration

I created a new "easy to install package" as per many requested (based on the official OpenCore). [The attached package updated to 1.0.0] For those who only need HWAccel, post #594 has everything you need. This new package mainly offer HWAccel + boot screen. Also, this package should work in...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[RickyHunter]

Everything you need is in the 1st post. For you look at Hybridization section.

Excuse me sir, I stated I followed the first post. If I still have issues, maybe I did something wrong or that's not explained in way I can understand. In addition, I tried to do the hybridization steps and I had errors during the verification.

 

[startergo]

Excuse me sir, I stated I followed the first post. If I still have issues, maybe I did something wrong or that's not explained in way I can understand. In addition, I tried to do the hybridization steps and I had errors during the verification.

Hybridization

iMacPro hybridization, a strategy originally due to @h9826790, is integral to successful hardware acceleration.

• Find the SMBIOS key
• Below it, replace

<dict/>

by

<dict>
<key>BoardProduct</key>
<string>Mac-7BA5B2D9E42DDD94</string>
</dict>

• Find UpdateSMBIOS and change false to true

 

[RickyHunter]

Try Martin Lo's OpenCore package and config here:

Activate AMD hardware acceleration

I created a new "easy to install package" as per many requested (based on the official OpenCore). [The attached package updated to 1.0.0] For those who only need HWAccel, post #594 has everything you need. This new package mainly offer HWAccel + boot screen. Also, this package should work in...

forums.macrumors.com

Thank you man! It worked (quite) like a charm.
I also manually added the support to Night Shift.

Still have to try if cmp wake up after the sleep though.

Things not working:
1) during the boot picker I'm forced to make a choice (no auto choice after a given period as it was before)
2) I'm not able to hide the boot picker. I followed the instructions: "To hide the boot picker find ShowPicker and change true to false" in the first post but I keep on seeing it.

Any ideas how to solve these issues?

 

[6DecadesLater]

Thank you man! It worked (quite) like a charm.
I also manually added the support to Night Shift.

Still have to try if cmp wake up after the sleep though.

Things not working:
1) during the boot picker I'm forced to make a choice (no auto choice after a given period as it was before)
2) I'm not able to hide the boot picker. I followed the instructions: "To hide the boot picker find ShowPicker and change true to false" in the first post but I keep on seeing it.

Any ideas how to solve these issues?

For 1), have you selected the startup disk in system preferences?

 

[RickyHunter]

For 1), have you selected the startup disk in system preferences?

I only have one disk at the moment, so in system preferences I only have it.
I see 3 options in the bootpicker that are EFI, Catalina and Catalina Recovery: they are all on the same disk.
Other ideas?

 

[nobullone1964]

I only have one disk at the moment, so in system preferences I only have it.
I see 3 options in the bootpicker that are EFI, Catalina and Catalina Recovery: they are all on the same disk.
Other ideas?

Forget bootpicker for now. When you make changes to the open core EFI and bless it you must reselect your default OS BEFORE rebooting. If you don't it will show the bootpicker and default to EFI drive regardless of the "false" input. Look for the "you have picked" message when you've selected. Lock it in. When a default drive is chosen you can manually open the bootpicker and you'll see your main drive will be the default. No EFI drive will show. It's just a partition. That means it will boot to your default OS without showing bootpicker. Remember...If you make a change choose the default OS afterwards. I bless after making pre-reboot changes. Force of habit. Hope this helps....

 

[GSXB]

Forget bootpicker for now. When you make changes to the open core EFI and bless it you must reselect your default OS BEFORE rebooting. If you don't it will show the bootpicker and default to EFI drive regardless of the "false" input. Look for the "you have picked" message when you've selected. Lock it in. When a default drive is chosen you can manually open the bootpicker and you'll see your main drive will be the default. No EFI drive will show. It's just a partition. That means it will boot to your default OS without showing bootpicker. Remember...If you make a change choose the default OS afterwards. I bless after making pre-reboot changes. Force of habit. Hope this helps....

Agreed, each time you make changes make sure to re-bless with the bless tool. Don’t forget to reselect your preferred boot drive in preferences

 

[GSXB]

Posting this just in case it helps fellow users
If when you install OpenCore bare in mind what drive you install it on
My own experience shows that if you have repurposed the SuperDrives and connected more storage put opencore on the top SuperDrive sata
It’s the first storage to be read and as such opencore will boot up
As on any other drive it will not kick in first and will only be accessible via the option key at startup
Hope it helps
This is my newly edited boot screens

with more appropriate icons

 

[xb12]

OpenCore on Legacy Apple Hardware

This guide explains how to use the excellent OpenCore bootloader on a classic Mac Pro to install, run and update macOS Catalina, resulting in a clean, unpatched operating system no different than on a supported Mac.

Why OpenCore?

There are several advantages to using OpenCore on a classic Mac Pro:

Boot picker screen (even with a standard graphics card)
View attachment 916024
Software Update (just like on a supported Mac)
View attachment 882160
Hardware acceleration (and DRM for Netflix on Safari)View attachment 919405
Requirements

Mac Pro model	Early 2009 with MacPro5,1 firmware,* Mid 2010 or Mid 2012
Processor architecture	Westmere (E56xx, L56xx, X56xx) / Gulftown (W36xx)
Boot ROM version	144.0.0.0.0*
Graphics	EFI (flashed) or standard UEFI card with Metal support

* Need to upgrade? See the upgrade instructions.

PART I
Basic Installation




PART II
Advanced Configuration




PART III
Maintenance




APPENDIX​

Acknowledgements

A big thank you to @vit9696 and the other talented developers of Acidanthera for making all of this possible. Special gratitude goes to @h9826790 for spearheading the hardware acceleration study and @startergo for the relentless testing that led to boot screen support. And thanks to all those that have contributed to this thread!

Thank you very much for your work.

On my Mac Pro 4.1 with Rx580 I have on bay#2 a 120 go SSD with last Catalina 10.15.6 installed.
Bay #1 is a super duper partionned 640 go HDD clone.

I wish I could install open core for bootscreen and so on.

Is it possible to install open core without a Newly formatted APFS volume please?

I have a bunch of "demo" software installed and I don't want to install them all again.

Thanks for your help.

 

[D3Maco]

Hello, What can I achieve with MacPro1,1 (Graphics ATI5870 or and RX580) and OpenCore?

 

[naerct]

Instead of using the terminal command, try rebooting and using Command + R to get to the recovery - be patient as it can take a long time to see any progress. Or try doing a NVRAM reset (boot while holding Command+Option+P+R - hold until you hear a second boot chime, then let keys go and quickly press and hold Command + R.

Thanks for your response. I do know how long it takes to boot into recovery, because I have made that mistake several times in months past with Opencore. I also tried command+R without success, and I did a pram reset at some point, but never both sequentially. I ended up making a new clean install of Mojave and I never thought I could be so happy to see that screen. So I got most everything working with Catalina after adding Opencore. I will remember that pram + recovery selection for the future, thanks. One thing I noticed about the wait for booting in recovery was that the screens looked slightly different, perhaps not pure black. At my age, I need the prompt not to give up too soon...

 

[cuppuccino]

Hey guys,
I successfully installed Catalina on my MacPro 5,1 everything works for now except the WIFI. Is there a way to make the old Airport card work or do I have to buy another card? Can anyone give me some tips?
Thanks

 

[Dayo]

Hello, What can I achieve with MacPro1,1 (Graphics ATI5870 or and RX580) and OpenCore?

I don't believe this works on a cMP 1,1

 

[rivangom]

see attached pictures

Thanks!

 

[nobullone1964]

Does anyone have a bootpicker screen with power and restart buttons added?

 

[m4f1050]

Need some assistance. I got hit by lightning and my Mac Pro 5,1 fried USB/BT/Sound. I replaced the motherboard but I guess it does not have the firmware/boot rom to read my boot drive (OpenCore / Catalina 10.15.6 update) I can read my data/time machine drive but I can't boot from it. How can I upgrade this new board's firmware/boot rom to be able to read my boot drive (I'm guessing it's APFS?)

EDIT:

I have El Capitan and Mavericks clones I am going to try to boot off of those and hope to land on a desktop.

 

[cuppuccino]

Hey guys,
I successfully installed Catalina on my MacPro 5,1 everything works for now except the WIFI. Is there a way to make the old Airport card work or do I have to buy another card? Can anyone give me some tips?
Thanks

Okay nevermind. I just ordered a BCM94360, hopefully this will also work in Big Sur.

However, I got another question: Am I supposed to see a boot picker screen with a non-flashed GPU? Because the guide on page 1 kind of implied it... "even with a standard graphics card".

I'm asking because I'm not seeing a boot picker with my unflashed GT 710, the screen turns on when the login mask appears.

 

[startergo]

Okay nevermind. I just ordered a BCM94360, hopefully this will also work in Big Sur.

However, I got another question: Am I supposed to see a boot picker screen with a non-flashed GPU? Because the guide on page 1 kind of implied it... "even with a standard graphics card".

I'm asking because I'm not seeing a boot picker with my unflashed GT 710, the screen turns on when the login mask appears.

I can't see it with my GT-710 neither. Actually I have not seen a report for a boot screen with NVIDIA card (original OEM vbios). I even updated my GOP:

nvflash64.exe --compare MSI.GT710.2048.160112_updGOP.rom
NVIDIA Firmware Update Utility (Version 5.620.0)
Copyright (C) 1993-2019, NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved.


Adapter: GeForce GT 710       (10DE,128B,1462,8C93) H:--:NRM  S:00,B:0C,D:00,F:00


EEPROM ID (A1,3112) : FM FM25F02 2.7-3.6V 2048Kx1S, page

NVIDIA Firmware Comparison
Comparing MSI.GT710.2048.160112_updGOP.rom...
Current      - Version:80.28.A6.00.30 ID:10DE:128B:1462:8C93
               GK208 Board - 21320014 (Normal Board)
Compare with - Version:80.28.A6.00.30 ID:10DE:128B:1462:8C93
               GK208 Board - 21320014 (Normal Board)

ERROR: Size difference between file(168448) and adapter ROM space (260608)
NOTE: Make sure to compare with entire saved image file.
    Firmware
        Legacy BIOS ........................................ Pass
        UEFI ............................................... Pass
        Firmware Certificate ............................... Pass
    Firmware
        Legacy BIOS ........................................ Pass
        UEFI ............................................... Pass
        Firmware Certificate ............................... Pass
    InfoROM ................................................ N/A
    Unallocated Space ...................................... Pass
File firmware image MSI.GT710.2048.160112_updGOP.rom matches adapter firmware image.

 

[Dayo]

Actually I have not seen a report for a boot screen with NVIDIA card (original OEM vbios).

From investigation, legacy NVDIA cards that rely on UGA seem able to show the boot picker but newer ones that use GOP apparently cannot as the GOP implementation seems to have a 0x0 resolution for some reason and is thus considered invalid.

It seems the 0x0 resolution is a default that should be updated to match the detected resolution when booting but this update never takes place (At least not on a cMP) and the 0x0 resolution is what gets through.

Could also be that this update only takes place later in the boot flow.

Speculating though and might be worth raising an issue to see if there is a workaround.